U.S. patent number 6,827,168 [Application Number 10/156,959] was granted by the patent office on 2004-12-07 for automotive equipment mounting structure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Toshihisa Miyazaki.
United States Patent |
6,827,168 |
Miyazaki |
December 7, 2004 |
Automotive equipment mounting structure
Abstract
A battery is mounted to a front part of a wheel house/damper
housing, and a relay box as automotive equipment is mounted to the
rear of the battery via front and rear stays in such a manner as to
be separated upwardly. A guide surface is formed at a front end of
a lower side of the relay box, and a corner at a rear end of the
battery is made to face the guide surface. When the battery is
moved rearward in a vehicle collision, the relay box is moved
upwardly by a load transmitted thereto from the battery via the
guide surface to thereby be separated from the vehicle body.
Accordingly, the impact absorbing performance can be increased by
preventing the disturbance of the relay box to the rear movement of
the battery, and damage to the relay box can be suppressed to a
minimum level.
Inventors: |
Miyazaki; Toshihisa (Saitama,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki
Kaisha (Tokyo, JP)
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Family
ID: |
19018954 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/156,959 |
Filed: |
May 30, 2002 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jun 13, 2001 [JP] |
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P. 2001-178219 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
180/68.5;
180/274 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R
19/00 (20130101); B60R 2021/0004 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60R
19/00 (20060101); B60R 21/00 (20060101); B60R
016/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;180/68.5,274,271
;280/784 ;439/621,622,34 ;248/548 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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06-270697 |
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Sep 1994 |
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JP |
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10-023637 |
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Jan 1998 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Ellis; Christopher P.
Assistant Examiner: Restifo; Jeff
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Arent Fox PLLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An automotive equipment mounting structure comprising: a battery
mounted to a vehicle body; an automotive equipment mounted via
mounting portions to the vehicle body at a position in the vicinity
of said battery, and a guide member provided at a location where
said battery that would be moved by a load generated in a vehicle
collision, interferes with said automotive equipment, wherein said
automotive equipment is moved apart from said vehicle body in a
predetermined direction by a load transmitted thereto from said
battery via said guide member, wherein each of said mounting
portions comprises an inserting or clip-hold structure having a
locking pawl which snap fits into a locking aperture defined in
said automotive equipment, and wherein said automotive equipment is
dislocated from said mounting portions and separated from said
vehicle body when said automotive equipment is moved in the
predetermined direction in the vehicle collision.
2. The automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in
claim 1, wherein said guide member forms a plate member provided on
at least one of said automotive equipment and said battery.
3. The automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in
claim 2, wherein said mounting portions are constructed so as to be
disconnected from said automotive equipment when the translation of
said battery reaches or exceeds a predetermined value.
4. The automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in
claim 3, wherein said automotive equipment comprises: an electric
equipment; and a wiring harness connecting continuously to said
electric equipment and being loosely supported on said vehicle
body.
5. The automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in
claim 2, wherein said automotive equipment comprises: an electric
equipment; and a wiring harness connecting continuously to said
electric equipment and being loosely supported on said vehicle
body.
6. The automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in
claim 2, further comprising: a hood being bendable upwardly at a
predetermined position thereof by a load generated in the vehicle
collision, wherein said automotive equipment is moved toward a
space that is formed by said hood when said hood is so bent.
7. The automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in
claim 1, wherein said mounting portions are constructed so as to be
disconnected from said automotive equipment when the translation of
said battery reaches or exceeds a predetermined value.
8. The automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in
claim 7, wherein said automotive equipment comprises: an electric
equipment; and a wiring harness connecting continuously to said
electric equipment and being loosely supported on said vehicle
body.
9. The automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in
claim 1, wherein said automotive equipment comprises: an electric
equipment; and a wiring harness connecting continuously to said
electric equipment and being loosely supported on said vehicle
body.
10. The automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in
claim 1, further comprising: a hood being bendable upwardly at a
predetermined position thereof by a load generated in the vehicle
collision, wherein said automotive equipment is moved toward a
space that is formed by said hood when said hood is so bent.
11. The automotive equipment mounting structure according to claim
1, further comprising an intermediate support portion extending
upward from an intermediate position of an extension extending
rearward from a rear end of an inclined guide surface.
12. An automotive equipment mounting structure comprising: a
battery mounted to a vehicle body; an automotive equipment mounted
via mounting portions to the vehicle body at a position in the
vicinity of said battery; and a guide member comprising: a guide
surface inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle
body; a support portion extending vertically relative to the
longitudinal axis of the vehicle body from a front end of the
inclined guide surface; and an extension extending rearward from a
rear end of the inclined guide surface; wherein said guide member
is provided at a location where said battery that would be moved by
a load generated in a vehicle collision interferes with said
automotive equipment, and wherein said automotive equipment is
moved apart from said vehicle body in a predetermined direction by
a load transmitted thereto from said battery via said guide
member.
13. The automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in
claim 12, wherein said guide member forms a plate member provided
on at least one of said automotive equipment and said battery.
14. The automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in
claim 12, wherein each of said mounting portions comprises an
inserting or clip-hold structure, and wherein said automotive
equipment is dislocated from said mounting portions and separated
from said vehicle body when said automotive equipment is moved in
the predetermined direction in the vehicle collision.
15. The automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in
claim 14, wherein said mounting portions are constructed so as to
be disconnected from said automotive equipment when the translation
of said battery reaches or exceeds a predetermined value.
16. The automotive equipment mounting structure according to claim
14, further comprising an intermediate support portion extending
upward from an intermediate position of an extension extending
rearward from a rear end of an inclined guide surface.
17. The automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in
claim 12, wherein said automotive equipment comprises: an electric
equipment; and a wiring harness connecting continuously to said
electric equipment and being loosely supported on said vehicle
body.
18. The automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in
claim 12, further comprising: a hood being bendable upwardly at a
predetermined position thereof by a load generated in the vehicle
collision, wherein said automotive equipment is moved toward a
space that is formed by said hood when said hood is so bent.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automotive equipment mounting
structure in which automotive equipment is mounted via mounting
portions to a vehicle body in the vicinity of a battery which is
also mounted to the vehicle body.
2. Description of the Related Art
Automotive equipment of various types is disposed in an engine
compartment. When the automotive equipment is strongly fixed to a
vehicle body, a crush stroke of the vehicle body is reduced by the
automotive equipment thus strongly fixed to the vehicle body in
collision of the vehicle. This leading to a risk of the reduction
of impact absorbing effect. In addition, in the event that the
automotive equipment comprising electric equipment is damaged due
to the impact generated by the collision, there is caused a risk
that functions of other electric equipment may be adversely
affected by disconnection or short-circuit that would be caused
when the electric equipment is so damaged.
Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication Hei. 6-270697
(JP-A-6-270697) discloses an automotive equipment mounting
structure in which automotive equipment such as an inverter for a
driving motor for an electric vehicle, an auxiliary battery and an
inverter for an air conditioner, is disposed in a longitudinal
direction of the vehicle and is then connected to one another with
links which are inclined relative the longitudinal direction.
According to this structure, in case that the vehicle is in
collision and in turn an impact is applied to the vehicle from the
front, the auxiliary battery, which is disposed centrally, is moved
upwardly due to the function of the links while the inverters
disposed before and after the auxiliary battery are moved
downwardly, whereby the automotive equipment is prevented from
interfering with one another to thereby secure a crush stroke for
the vehicle body so as not only to effectively absorb the impact
generated by the collision but also to prevent the damage of the
automotive equipment. Furthermore, the above-mentioned Japanese
Patent unexamined publication discloses an automotive equipment
mounting structure in which an engaging portion and a portion to be
engaged are provided on an engine compartment hood and automotive
equipment, respectively, whereby when the engine compartment hood
is pressed from the front and is then bent upwardly when the
vehicle is brought into collision, the engaging portion on the hood
and the portion to be engaged on the automotive equipment are
brought into engagement with each other, so that the automotive
equipment is lifted upwardly, a crush stroke for the vehicle being
thereby secured.
In addition, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Hei.
10-23637 (JP-A-10-23637) discloses an automotive equipment mounting
structure in which a casing for accommodating automotive equipment
comprising a junction box for branching and connecting a wiring
harness is constituted by a main body and a lid. The main body has
a V-shaped groove extending in a transverse direction of the
vehicle, and the lid covers an opening in an upper surface of the
main body. According to the construction, when an impact is exerted
from the front and the vehicle is brought into collision the main
body of the casing is press collapsed at a portion thereof where
the V-shaped groove is formed so as to absorb the impact so
exerted. Moreover, the lid is separated from the main body upwardly
so as to absorb the impact, whereby a damage to the junction box
can be prevented.
Incidentally, with the mounting structure described in
JP-A-6-270697, since a plurality of pieces of automotive equipment
need to be connected to one another with the links, the number of
components is increased. Accordingly, production costs would be
increased, and also there is a risk that the links may not be able
to exhibit sufficiently the required function in the event that the
impact from a collision deviates from an expected direction. In
addition, with the automotive equipment mounting structure in which
the automotive equipment is lifted upwardly by allowing the
engaging portion on the engine compartment hood to engage with the
portion to be engaged on the automotive equipment, since the
engaging portion needs to be provided on the engine compartment
hood at a position closer to the front, there is caused a problem
that the structure is difficult to be applied to automotive
equipment that is disposed at a more rearward position than the
engaging portion.
In addition, with the automotive equipment mounting structure
described in JP-A-10-23637, since the casing needs to be designed
larger in order to provide a sufficient amount to be collapsed for
effective protection of the junction box when in collision, the
casing tends to become larger than a size which is normally
required for the junction box, which is disadvantageous in terms of
space efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention was made in these situations. It is an object of the
present invention to prevent the reduction in impact absorbing
effect due to the interference of automotive equipment when a
vehicle is brought into collision while limiting the damage to the
automotive equipment to a minimum level.
With a view to attaining the object, according to a first aspect of
the invention, there is provided an automotive equipment mounting
structure in which a battery is mounted to a vehicle body and
automotive equipment is mounted via mounting portions to the
vehicle body at a position in the vicinity of the battery, wherein
a guide member is provided at a location where the battery that
would be moved by a load generated when a vehicle is brought into
collision interferes with the automotive equipment, whereby the
automotive equipment is moved apart from the vehicle body in a
predetermined direction by a load transmitted thereto from the
battery via the guide member.
According to the construction, since the guide member is provided
at the location where the battery that would be moved by a load
generated when a vehicle is brought into collision interferes with
the automotive equipment, so that the automotive equipment is moved
apart from the vehicle body in the predetermined direction by a
load transmitted thereto from the battery via the guide member.
Accordingly, the impact absorbing performance can be increased by
preventing the interference of the automotive equipment with other
members that would also be moved by the impact so generated when
the vehicle is brought into collision, and also the damage that
would be made to the automotive equipment can be suppressed to a
minimum level.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an
automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in the first
aspect of the invention, wherein the guide member is constituted by
a plate-like member provided at least one of the automotive
equipment and the battery.
According to the construction, since the guide member is
constituted by the plate-like member provided at least one of the
automotive equipment and the battery, the movement of the battery
due to the collision of the vehicle can effectively be transmitted
to the automotive equipment via the guide member.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an
automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in the first
or second aspect of the invention, wherein the automotive equipment
is mounted to the vehicle body via the mounting portions which each
have an inserting or clip-hold construction, whereby the automotive
equipment is dislocated from the mounting portions, to thereby be
separated from the vehicle body when the automotive equipment is
moved in the predetermined direction in the vehicle collision.
According to the construction, since when the automotive equipment
is moved in the predetermined direction due to the impact generated
in the vehicle collision, the mounting portions are dislocated so
that the automotive equipment is released from the restrained state
by the mounting portions. Accordingly the interference of the
automotive equipment with other members and also the damage to the
automotive equipment can be prevented more effectively.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided an
automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in any of the
first to third aspects of the invention, wherein the mounting
portions are constructed so as to be disconnected from the
automotive equipment when the translation of the battery reaches or
exceeds a predetermined value.
According to the construction, since the mounting portions for
mounting the automotive equipment to the vehicle body are
constructed so as to be disconnected from the automotive equipment
when the translation of the battery reaches or exceeds the
predetermined value, the mounting portions are dislocated when a
collision equal to or larger than a certain magnitude occurs.
Accordingly, it is ensured that the automotive equipment is
released from the restrained state.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided an
automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in any of the
first to fourth aspects of the invention, wherein the automotive
equipment is electric equipment, and wherein a wiring harness
connecting continuously to the electric equipment is loosely
supported on the vehicle body.
According to the construction, since the wiring harness which
connects to the electric equipment which is the automatic equipment
is loosely supported on the vehicle body, there is no risk that the
movement of the automotive equipment is prevented by the wiring
harness.
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided an
automotive equipment mounting structure as set forth in any of the
first to fifth aspects of the invention, wherein a hood is provided
which is designed to be bent upwardly at a predetermined position
thereof by a load generated in the vehicle collision, and wherein
the automotive equipment is moved toward a space formed by the hood
when the hood is so bent.
According to the construction, since the hood is designed to be
bent upwardly at the predetermined position thereof by a load
generated when the vehicle is brought into collision, the
automotive equipment is allowed to be moved toward the space formed
by the hood when it is so bent, whereby the disturbance to the
movement of the automotive equipment that would be caused by the
interference of the automotive equipment with the hood can be
avoided.
The invention may be more fully understood from the description of
preferred embodiments of the invention, as set forth below,
together with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings;
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an engine compartment;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of FIG. 1 as viewed in a direction
indicated by an arrow denoted by reference numeral 2 therein;
FIG. 3 is a view of FIG. 2 as viewed in a direction indicated by an
arrow denoted by reference numeral 3 therein;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 in FIG. 4;
and
FIG. 6 is a view of FIG. 4 as viewed in a direction indicated by an
arrow denoted by reference numeral 6 therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A preferable embodiment according to the invention will be
described below based on an embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 1 to 6 show an embodiment of the invention, in which FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an engine compartment, FIG. 2 is an
enlarged view of FIG. 1 as viewed in a direction indicated by an
arrow denoted by reference numeral 2 therein, FIG. 3 is a view of
FIG. 2 as viewed in a direction indicated by an arrow denoted by
reference numeral 3 therein, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along
the line 4--4 in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the
line 5--5 in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a view of FIG. 4 as viewed in a
direction indicated by an arrow denoted by reference numeral 6
therein.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an engine compartment of a four-wheel
vehicle comprises a pair of left and right front side frames 11,
11, a pair of left and right wheel houses/damper housings 12, 12
which are welded to the left and right front side frames 11, 11,
respectively, and a pair of left and right wheel house upper
members 13, 13 which are welded to the left and right wheel
houses/damper housings 12, 12, respectively. The engine compartment
also comprises a dash panel 14 welded between rear ends of the
wheel houses/damper housings 12, 12, a windshield lower 15 welded
to an upper surface of the dash panel 14, and a pair of left and
right front side bulkheads 16, 16 welded to front ends of the left
and right wheel houses/damper housings 12, 12, respectively. The
engine compartment further comprise a bulkhead upper center frame
17 welded between upper front ends of the front side bulkheads 16,
16, and a front lower cross member 18 welded between lower front
ends of the front side bulkheads 16, 16.
A battery support tray 19 is welded to an internal surface of the
left front side bulkhead 16, and a battery 20 is supported on an
upper surface of the tray 19. As is clear from FIG. 2, a left-hand
side 20a of the parallelepipedal battery 20 is disposed to be
inclined along the internal surface of the front side bulkhead 16.
A corner or edge between the left-hand side 20a and a front side
20c of the battery 20 is situated at a front-most position of a
body of the vehicle, whereas a corner or edge between a right-hand
side 20b and a rear side 20d of the battery is situated at a
rear-most position of the vehicle body.
The left-hand wheel house/damper housing 12 integrally comprises a
front wheel house 21 and a rear damper housing 22, and a relay box
23, which is automotive equipment, is supported in a space facing
an upper surface of the wheel house 21 and a front side of the
damper housing 22. The relay box 23 is generally formed into a
parallelepipedal configuration and is divided into to portions such
as a lower main body 24 and an upper lid 25.
As is clear when referring to FIGS. 4 to 6 together, a first stay
26 for supporting the relay box 23 at a front side thereof
comprises a base portion 26a which is welded W1 to an upper surface
of the wheel house 21 and a support portion 26b which is made to
rise from the base portion 26a, and a quadrangle locking hole 26c
is formed in an upper end of the support portion 26b. On the other
hand, a second stay 27 for supporting the relay box 23 at a rear
side thereof comprises a base portion 27a which is welded W2 to the
front side of the damper housing 22 and a pair of support portions
27b, 27b which are made to rise from the base portion 27, and
quadrangle locking holes 27c, 27c are formed in upper ends of the
respective support portions 27b, 27b.
A rib 24a is provided around an upper edge of the main body 24 of
the relay box 23 which opens upwardly, and a groove 25a is formed
around a lower edge of the lid 25 thereof, whereby the main body 24
and the lid 25 are made integral with clips 28 provided two on each
of the front and rear of the relay box 23 with the rib 24b being
fitted in the groove 25a. The four (4) clips 28 each have the same
construction in which a locking pawl 24c is provided at an upper
end of a plate-like portion 24b having a higher rigidity which
extends upwardly from a side of the main body 24, while a locking
pawl 25b is provided at an upper end of a plate-like portion 25b
having a lower rigidity which extends upwardly from a side of the
lit 25. Consequently, when the lid 25 is fitted on the main body 24
from above the plate-like portion 25b of the lid 25 is pressed by
the locking pawl 24c of the main body 24 so as to deflect inwardly,
whereby the locking pawl 24c of the main body 24 fits in the
locking hole 25c in the lid 25. When the lid 25 is separated from
the main body 24 the plate-like portion 25b of the lid 25 is caused
to deflect inwardly so that the locking pawl 24c is dislocated from
the locking hole 25c, and the lid 25 only has to be drawn upwardly
in that condition.
Clips 29 for supporting the relay box 23 at the upper ends of the
first stay 26 and the second stay 27 each have the same
construction. Disposed in the interior of a guide portion 24d
provided to protrude from a side of the main body 24 of the relay
box 23 in such a manner to be put therethrough vertically is a
plate 24e which is constructed such that a lower portion is
supported, whereas an upper portion is allowed to freely deflect,
and a locking pawl 24f is provided on an external side of the plate
24e. Consequently, when the support portion 26b of the first stay
26 (or the support portion 27b of the second stay 27) is inserted
into the guide portion 24d of the clip 29 from below the plate 24e
deflects, and the locking pawl 24f is brought into engagement with
the locking hole 26c (or the locking hole 27c), whereby the relay
box 23 is supported at the upper ends of the first stay 26 and the
second stay 27.
Furthermore, a plate-like member 30 is fixed to the main body 24 of
the relay box 23 at a position which is closer to a right-hand side
of the main body 24 (closer to the center of the engine
compartment) in such a manner as to extend from the front side to a
lower side of the main body 24. The plate-like member 30 comprises,
at a position corresponding to the rear of an upper end of a corner
or edge formed between a right-hand side 20b and a rear side 20d of
the battery 20, a guide surface 30a which inclines from a front
upper portion to a rear lower portion. The plate-like member also
comprises a support portion 30b which extends upwardly along a
front end of the guide surface 30a to the front side of the main
body 24 of the relay box 23. The plate-like member 30 further
comprises a support portion 30d which extends upwardly along the
right-hand side of the main body 24 of the relay box 23 from an
intermediate position along the length of an rearward extension 30c
which extends to the rear from a rear end of the guide surface 30a
30e along the lower side of the main body 24 of the relay box 23.
Then, quadrangle locking holes 30e, are formed in upper ends of the
two support portions 30b, 30d.
The support portions 30b, 30d of the plate-like member 30 are fixed
to the front side and right-hand side of the main body 24 of the
relay box 23 via clips 31, 31 which each have the same construction
as that of the three (3) clips 29 which support the relay box 23 at
the support portion 26b of the first stay 26 and the support
portions 27b, 27b of the second stay 27.
As is clear from FIG. 3, a wiring harness 32 continuously
connecting to the relay box 23 extends downwardly once, then bends
upwardly and finally extends horizontally. Th, the wiring harness
32 is given to an extra length to its minimum required length and
is thereby loosely disposed in the engine compartment.
Next, the function of the embodiment of the invention constructed
as has been described heretofore will be described.
When the vehicle is brought into collision, an impact from the
front forcedly collapses to the rear the bulkhead upper center
frame 17, front lower cross member 18, front side bulkhead 16, 16,
front side frames 11, 11, wheel houses/damper housings 12, 12, and
the wheel house upper members 13, 13. At this time, the impact also
moves rearward the battery 20 supported on the battery support tray
19 which is made integral with the left front side bulkhead 16.
When the battery 20 is so moved to the rear the upper end of the
corner or edge between the right-hand side 20b and the rear side
20d of the battery 20 interferes with the guide surface 30a of the
plate-like member 30 fixed to the relay box 23. The battery 20 thus
moved pushes upwardly the relay box 23 together with the guide
surface 30a. Thus, when the relay box 23 is pushed upwardly over a
predetermined distance corresponding to the withdrawal of the
battery 20 the locking pawls 24f of the three (3) clips 29 provided
on the main body 24 of the relay box 23 are forcedly dislocated
from the locking holes 26c, 27c, 27c formed in the support portions
26b, 27b, 27b of the first and second stays 26, 27, whereby the
relay box 23 is separated upwardly from the first and second stays
26, 27.
As this occurs, since stiffeners are disposed at predetermined
positions in predetermined configurations on the back of an engine
compartment hood 33 which covers the engine compartment in order to
reinforce the hood 33, the engine compartment hood 33 is bent
upwardly at a portion corresponding to the relay box 23, whereby a
space is secured thereat into which the relay box 23 is received
after it has been separated from the stays. Thus, since the relay
box 23 which has resided ahead of the damper housing 22 having a
relatively high rigidity which constitutes the rear portion of the
wheel house/damper housing 12 is allowed to move upwardly, as well
as to freely move to the rear along the upper surface of the damper
housing 22 after the relay box 23 has been released from the
engagement with the first and second stays 26, 27, the battery 20
is allowed to withdraw to the position where the damper housing 22
is located without interference with the relay box 23, whereby a
sufficient crush stroke can be secured for absorption of the impact
generated from the collision of the vehicle. As this occurs, since
the wiring harness 32 continuously connecting to the relay box 23
is loosely disposed, there is no risk of the upward movement of the
relay box 23 being disturbed by the wiring harness 32.
In addition, since the relay box 23 is allowed to withdraw in the
upward direction at the time of collision of the vehicle, the relay
box 23 is made difficult to be damaged, whereby adverse effect onto
other electric equipment that would be caused by disconnection or
short-circuit happening in the interior of the relay box 23 can be
suppressed to a minimum level.
Thus, while the embodiment of the invention has been described in
detail heretofore, the invention may be modified variously with
respect to its design without departing from the spirit and scope
thereof. For example, while the plate-like member 30 having the
guide surface 30a is provided on the relay box 23 side in the
embodiment, the plate-like member 30 may be provided on the battery
20 side.
In addition, while the battery 20 and the relay box 23 are mounted
to the front side bulkhead 16 in the embodiment, they may be
mounted on any optional member in the engine compartment.
Furthermore, while the relay box 23 is described as the automotive
equipment in the embodiment, the invention may be applied to any
other optional automotive equipment than the relay box 23.
Moreover, while the first stay 26, the second stay 27 and the clips
29 are described as the mounting portions each having the inserting
clip-hold construction in the embodiment, the invention may adopt
any other optional inserting construction than the inserting
clip-hold construction.
In addition, while the invention is described as being applied to
the battery 20 and the relay box 23 which are disposed in the
engine compartment, the invention may be applied to a battery 20
and other automotive equipment which are disposed in a boot of the
vehicle, in which case the hood is not the engine compartment hood
but is a boot lid.
Note that a front side bulkhead 16 one of example of the vehicle
body of the invention. A relay box 23 described in an embodiment is
also one of example of the automotive equipment of the invention.
Further, a first stay 26, a second stay 27 and third stay 29
described in the embodiment are one of example of the mounting
portions each having an inserting or clip-hold construction.
Moreover, an engine compartment hood 33 described in the embodiment
is one of example of the hood in the invention.
As has been described heretofore, according to the first aspect of
the invention, since the guide surface is provided at the location
where the battery that would be moved by a load generated in a
vehicle collision interferes with the automotive equipment, so that
the automotive equipment is moved apart from the vehicle body in
the predetermined direction by a load transmitted thereto from the
battery via the guide surface. Accordingly, the impact absorbing
performance can be increased by preventing the interference of the
automotive equipment with other members that would also be moved by
the impact so generated in the vehicle collision, and also the
damage that would be made to the automotive equipment can be
suppressed to a minimum level.
According to the second aspect of the invention, since the guide
surface is constituted by the plate-like member provided at least
one of the automotive equipment and the battery, the movement of
the battery due to the collision of the vehicle can effectively be
transmitted to the automotive equipment via the guide surface.
According to the third aspect of the invention, since when the
automotive equipment is moved in the predetermined direction due to
the impact generated when the vehicle is brought into collision the
mounting portions are dislocated so that the automotive equipment
is released from the restrained state by the mounting portions, not
only the interference of the automotive equipment with other
members but also the damage to the automotive equipment can be
prevented more effectively.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the mounting
portions for mounting the automotive equipment to the vehicle body
are constructed so as to be disconnected from the automotive
equipment when the translation of the battery reaches or exceeds
the predetermined value, the mounting portions are dislocated when
a collision equal to or larger than a certain magnitude occurs, so
that it is ensured that the automotive equipment is released from
the restrained state.
According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the wiring
harness which connects to the electric equipment which is the
automatic equipment is loosely supported on the vehicle body, there
is no risk that the movement of the automotive equipment is
prevented by the wiring harness. According to the sixth aspect of
the invention, since the hood is designed to be bent upwardly at
the predetermined position thereof by a load generated when the
vehicle is brought into collision, the automotive equipment is
allowed to be moved toward the space formed by the hood when it is
so bent, whereby the disturbance to the movement of the automotive
equipment that would be caused by the interference of the
automotive equipment with the hood can be avoided.
While the invention has been described by reference to the specific
embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustration, it should be
apparent that numerous modifications could be made thereto by those
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention.
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